Samsung claims that global sales of its Galaxy smartphone series had surpassed 50 million.

Samsung had a 29.1 percent share of the global market for the first quarter of this year, the first time it topped rival Apple?s 24.2 percent, according to International Data Corporation. Strategy Analytics says the company sold 92.5 million handsets in the same period.

Samsung has been also dominating rivals LG Electronics and Pantech in the South Korean market, and holds 53 percent based on its internal statistics.

As of June 1, the Korean firm said it had sold 24 million Galaxy Ss, and 28 million Galaxy S2s.

The firm?s recently released flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S3, went on sale Tuesday and is also showing signs of becoming a certified hit.